WASHINGTON (CNN) - Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett told CNN Sunday that President Obama still wants to work with Republicans in a bipartisan way on major policy initiatives like health care reform.

"He has reached out more aggressively I think to the Republican Party than I could ever imagine a president could possibly do," she told John King on State of the Union. "So I think the burden is on him to reach out his hand, and that's what he's done, and that's what he's going to continue to do throughout this administration."

After failing to secure Republican support for most of his economic plan, the president called on the Senate last week to use a parliamentary procedure that would allow legislation - including massive efforts like a health care overhaul - to pass without any GOP votes.

soundoff(90 Responses)

Obama has tried, but it's time for our country to move on without the GOP!

April 26, 2009 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Larry

Unbelievable-Whats crazy is that she really believes what she is saying

Why should Republicans go along with ideology that has not and will never work,that would be stupid.

April 26, 2009 11:29 am at 11:29 am |

Ben (Eugene, OR)

More Democrats have voted against recent legislation than Republicans have voted for it.

These democrats are the smart ones. They know that when these partisan bills blow up in their faces, and they surely will, they can stand back and say that they voted against them. They have a future in Congress because they are Common Sense Democrats.

It's one party politics all over again people...
Haven't we learned from 6 of Bush's years that one party politics don't work? Now we're instituting parliamentary procedure to cut out the minority party? Sounds to me like more of the same one party nonsense!!! I wanted change, and I didn't get it. I want my vote back!!!

April 26, 2009 11:31 am at 11:31 am |

Tom

Parliamanetary procedure (a democratic measure) introduced by the Democrats is certainly better than the Republican ideal of total privitization of our country (a measure which is more in line with the feudal system). Obama has offered the hand of co-operation to the Republicans and the Republicans refused; the Republicans' plight is 100% their own doing and their own fault.

It's time for America to dissolve the untrusted and now-defunct Republican "party", establish a third party (to prevent America from becoming a one-party state, and move forward.

April 26, 2009 11:34 am at 11:34 am |

VON BISMARK,Vienna.

Bi-partisanship is dead with the death of the ultra right Republicans.
"O come and mourn with me..."

April 26, 2009 11:34 am at 11:34 am |

greg

paramilitary more like it ... he has his henchmen,,, the obs.. they observe and turn in their fellow citizens to the cnn blog ,, btw i wonder how much money cnn gets from the obamanation administration???

April 26, 2009 11:37 am at 11:37 am |

greg

today . so did hitler in 1936,, get a new brain wash,, b4 its too late for you to rejoin the human race,,, shades of the matrix is it not??

April 26, 2009 11:43 am at 11:43 am |

Ben (Eugene, OR)

@ Tom

Do you know what parliamentary procedure is??? How can you say that it is a democratic ideal when it removes the minority party's voice altogether??

You also say that you are against one party rule. How can you chastise the Republicans for one party rule, then not chastise the current Democrats for one party rule??

Hypocrisy? Yes!!!

April 26, 2009 11:44 am at 11:44 am |

Chris

As long as those republicans move in Obama's far left, free ride for those who aren't ever going to work for a living, yes, he's all for bipartisanship.

April 26, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

Ben (Eugene, OR)

Take Note:

In this article itself, the first two paragraphs completely contradict the last paragraph.

Words vs. Actions

I'm going to have to go with the Actions of the administration over the rhetoric by Jarrett, and Obama...

What do you think? Contradiction?

April 26, 2009 11:53 am at 11:53 am |

Doraine Gordon

What a shame that the Republicans are being so hard headed about everything. They simply won't accept the fact that they are no longer in power and never will be again. Most people would just say to heck with them and go on about their business. But not Obama. He just keeps on trying to work with them. I wish Obama would realize that those crazy Republicans don't intend to ever work with him. They are consumed with jealousy. envy and hatred. They are to be pitied!!

April 26, 2009 11:55 am at 11:55 am |

Latino

My question is why democrats are so concerns with been bipartisan? You and the majority of the 2008 voting have what they were looking for. That is to run this country. So what is the upsection to have the minority to agree with the majority. If you are sure that you are doing the right thing do not concern yourself for the minority approval. On less you are not sure that you are NOT doing what is right for this country.

April 26, 2009 11:55 am at 11:55 am |

gary davis

when the majority of americans and the world agree with President Obama ,then after all the questions are asked and answered ,then the Republicans need to get off the squak box and join in on getting our country back on the right track

our face being voted out of their job when they become re electable.
the people have spoken.

Bipartisanship was dead in the Obama administration the minute Nancy Pelosi said, “Yes, we wrote the bill. Yes, we won the election.” BHO can reach out all day long to the Repubs...but Queen Nancy will give the stern look of disapproval or, if need be, a smack on the hands.

...and in your own story, the sword was buried into the bipartisan beast...."After failing to secure Republican support for most of his economic plan, the president called on the Senate last week to use a parliamentary procedure that would allow legislation — including massive efforts like a health care overhaul — to pass without any GOP votes."

Until Nancy is sent back home to her district, there is no legitimate chance of BHO to reach out to both sides of the aisle.

April 26, 2009 12:00 pm at 12:00 pm |

Maryann

President Obama spoke of bringing people together–and that he wanted bi partian participation in the bill making. He really bent over backwards at first. HE went to the Republicans first.They have been to the White House more with him than any other President.I saw a story in the FOOD SECTION of a newspaper. The article was written the the person in charge of White House social events.She said that at the famous White House Superbowl party–All committee heads and their Republican counterparts were invited. She said some of the Republicans attending said that they had NEVER BEEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE before! Frankly, if the President slacked off on his reaching out to Repubs.it might be because of supporters like me. I E Mailed him numerous times saying enough was enough if they won't even try to co operate let's just move on without them. They continually blast Nancy Pelosi. ,but from what I get from it–everytime any Democrat brought up a idea they shot it down. You can't get anything done that way–they have to contribute some ideas and be willing to compromise. As for the stimulus package–some of their ideas WERE USED! Florida SEnator Mel Martinez- working with a senator from GA. introduced an idea that WAS USED IN THE FINAL PACKAGE-and he , of course, voted against his OWN IDEA and voted NO ! –I think that sums up the whole deal with bipartianship. On his budget the President has given them until Oct 15 to participate in the health care bill before resorting to putting it through without them. MORE THAN FAIR !! You have to have a deadline !!!

April 26, 2009 12:01 pm at 12:01 pm |

Sabrina

I find it interesting that the media portrays the lack of bipartisanship as an Obama problem. It has been the Republicans who have been shouting insults at this President since day 1. They are all over the networks shouting about how horrible he is. How can you work with someone that does not show rational behavior? If the media did its job they would be putting the onus on the GOP and asking them what their ideas are, instead of 24/7 Obama bashing.

April 26, 2009 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm |

Joe

If bipartisanship is defined as "my way or the highway" then yes Obama is bipatisan. It is sad that our countries future generations will be paying for this President and his parties ignorance and arrogance.

April 26, 2009 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |

Rose

Obama reaches out to the GOP and listens but when they don't agree with him on everything they become the party of "NO". It has to be Obama's way or no way. We still have a two party system but the Dems think it is just their party. If things start going down hill worse than they already are, who will the Dems blame then, they are making all the decisions.

April 26, 2009 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |

simonsays

The Democrates only want bipartisanship in case all the money they have been spending tanks the economy. Then they won't have just themselves to blame for enormous debt.

April 26, 2009 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |

chuck

Talk about a show going to the dogs,It's John KIng on Sunday Mornings.

April 26, 2009 12:07 pm at 12:07 pm |

Ben (Eugene, OR)

@ Today

I hope you aren't judging Obama purely on those popularity statistics...

Cheney had a higher grade than Biden after 100 days.

By your logic, Biden must be even more evil than Cheney!!! I hope Obama doesn't select Biden for his reelection run, we could reelect the anti-christ!!!! lol

April 26, 2009 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |

lived9lives Southern Oregon

It is unbelievable that Americans are NOT demanding their elected officials (Republicans) DO their jobs. How many of us could go to work and get away with doing nothing and acting like that is being productive? The Republican party is an embarrassment to our Nation and to the principles upon which it was founded.
This is equivalent to a firefighter standing and watching a house burn while stating "I don't like the people who live there – let them burn."

April 26, 2009 12:10 pm at 12:10 pm |

T Mckinley

On November 4, 2008, the people of the United States voted for health care reform, for green energy, and for the U.S.A. to lead the world by example instead of trying to bully other countries into doing what we want them to.

The Republicans should either get on board or get out of the way.

April 26, 2009 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

Ann

This woman doesn't seem too smart. Why exactly is Obama so crazy to have her around?